A quick peek at the astrology of the week ahead | April 19th - April 25th, 2021 - BIG changes/shake-ups ahead

 

 

Although we probably covered most of this in the monthly HERE - let's take a quick look at the week ahead!

 

MONDAY - Sun and Mercury into TAURUS

THURSDAY - Venus conjuncts Uranus

FRIDAY - Mars into CANCER

SATURDAY - Mercury conjuncts Uranus

SUNDAY - Mercury conjuncts Venus, Mercury and Venus square Saturn

We move into TAURUS season this week. The Sun and Mercury TOGETHER leave 'Action Jackson' Aries for "stop and smell the roses" Taurus.

This doesn't mean life slows down exactly, although there will be slowdowns, but we will feel much better if we make the time to enjoy those slower moments, care for ourselves (and others, but especially ourselves) in loving and practical ways and appreciate what we already have.

 

Taurus is the nuts and bolts of life. She rules our second house of everything important money can buy and everything important money can't. She rules food and nourishment. She rules the sensual touch that feels like love. She rules our resources - our money, the planet. She rules our self-esteem and values.

Ruled by balanced and beautiful Venus, Taurus is the space in your natal chart that naturally encloses what we are here to nurture, preserve and grow. It may be a space we have a bit less passion and ambition because we most naturally feel the need to sustain what takes root here. A bird in the hand thing usually applies to the theme of whatever space Taurus occupies in our natal chart. The energy is cautious because the thing we are holding/carrying here is precious.

(it can also become the fear-based space where good things go to die - and then we carry around a bunch of dead stuff like a crate of rotted vegetables and wonder why we are so tired all the time and smell like the Great Depression - something to keep in mind)

Toward the middle/end of the week, we can expect the unexpected as first Venus and then Mercury meet up with unpredictable/rebellious Uranus.

Surprises with money, relationships. Unexpected news. Changes to plans. SHAKE-UPS.

After meeting Uranus, Mercury and Venus hook up with each other and square Saturn. Restrictions/limits will be more strongly felt. Maybe new social rules are being enforced or money has tightened up, somehow we are feeling less 'free' here. More hunkered down.

 

This is all part of the Saturn/Uranus square we are working with in 2021.

 

Keep in mind, although Saturn is strong in Aquarius (as co-ruler) the other co-ruler of Aquarius is Uranus in Taurus and Venus rules Taurus. This isn't a typical "NO" square from Saturn (although there will likely be a no/limit here) there should be some workarounds - new values/wants/new ways to make money/sustain what needs sustaining. Ways to feel freer than we actually are.

Mars move into Cancer late in the week (heads up Aries and Scorpio risings because he rules your charts) turns our focus to home, family, family business, home business, renovation, real estate, mom situations. Our actions are motivated by safety/our emotions. Lots about this one in the monthly.

OK, BIG week ahead as April starts changing/deepening/tightening up - we will talk about all this as we move through the week and add in the Moons. 

 

More in the monthly HERE.

xo all

artwork by the talented Duy Huynh

men Who Fall from the sky - the astrology of Bernie madoff, his sons Andrew and Mark and the mythology of Icarus and Daedales

 

 

After analyzing the New Moon chart this week/last week (when was that?!) - whose prominent asteroids spoke of flying/falling, I was thinking about men who had fallen from the sky/from grace and what asteroid Icarus, in particular, (who has been and will be interacting with the United States birthchart at major times over the next couple years) might look like in their charts, especially during the time of their falls to earth. 

 

I was thinking about Trump and Clinton (Hillary's hubby), Nixon, etc, when I turned to the news and saw that Bernie Madoff (mega crash-lander of the 1980's whose downfall coincided with Pluto's move into Capricorn) had died in prison, three days after the New Moon, never having really apologized or repented from his financial crimes that had destroyed so many lives including those of his two sons. 

Let's recap Bernie's story first.

As gleaned from Wikipedia - fresh out of Hofstra University in 1960 with a political science degree, Bernie founded a penny stock investment house with a $50,000 loan and the $5000.00 he earned working summers as a lifeguard and sprinkler installer. In order to compete with firms that were members of the NYSE trading on the stock exchange's floor, his company invented innovative computer technology to disseminate its quotes (not sure just what this means but it certainly sounds very Sun/Uranus in Taurus which Bernie has). The technology later became NASDAQ which Bernie would go on to eventually chair. The Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC grew into a multi-billion dollar investment house in New York City producing astounding returns on the investments of their wealthy, "happy-to-not-take-too-close-a-look-I-would-suspect" clients, although this probably isn't fair since things were not so simple to look into in those days and his reputation was stellar. The who's who of New York/Hollywood all wanting Bernie to invest their money. His firm prospered for decades. Employees included his two sons, Andrew and Mark. 

Move ahead to December 10, 2008 (at this point Pluto - destruction/transformation/truth - had been in Capricorn - societal structures/big business/capitalism - for a couple weeks, and was at 0 degrees Capricorn, in Bernie's 5th house of children. Eris - whistleblower among other things - was conjunct Mars - young men - in Aries).

 

Bernie's sons' Mark and Andrew, both of whom worked for legitimate departments of the firm, questioned their father about the early disbursement of holiday bonuses to the staff. Bernie confessed to his sons, that the security's investment part of the business was one giant Ponzi scheme which was collapsing under the weight of the global financial crisis (remember this is December 2008) - he had been basically robbing Peter to pay Paul for years. The money that was supposed to be there wasn't there. The 'astounding' earnings he had been producing for his clients for many years, were lies, based on fake documents. 

 

Stunned, scared (probably furious and certainly heartbroken), brothers Mark and Andrew went immediately to the FBI and their father, his house of cards finally collapsing, was arrested the next day. Having bilked investors out of billions of dollars (some their life savings, at least one investor committed suicide), Bernie was tried, found guilty of securities fraud/theft and sentenced to 150 years in prison. Neither son ever spoke to their father again

 

(there is a very good Robert De Niro movie or mini-series based on this time in Madoff's life).

 

Although his sons were innocent of knowing about the Ponzi scheme - suspicions followed them. His son, Mark, committed suicide (hung himself from the ceiling) exactly two years to the day after Bernie was arrested - December 11, 2010. His other son Andrew, who had previously beaten cancer, saw his cancer return in 2011 (he blamed this on the stress of his father's crimes and the aftermath including his brother's death). He died on September 3, 2014. Bernie, outliving both his children by many years, died in prison this week - April 14, 2021.

Let's unpack the charts with an eye toward asteroids Icarus and Daedales (Icarus's dear old genius dad) and we'll take a closer look at how their mythology comes alive in this family. 

 

Bernie is a 28 degree Leo rising (conjunct king-maker fixed star Regulus when he was born, one degree from Donald Trump's own ascendant, their charts carry multiple similarities). Born on a New Moon, his chart ruling Sun in Taurus (money, values) conjunct reckless/rule-breaking Uranus (tech, the public). His Taurus stellium, which includes the South Node, ruled by a 29 degree Venus in Taurus. He has Neptune (lies, deception) in his first house of himself, ruling his 8th house of other people's money and squaring his natal Narcissus, and Jupiter (generosity, bigger-is-better, grandiosity) exactly conjunct his descendant (probably making him attractive to other people's 'greed/hope'). Jupiter squares his North and South Nodes making the expansion of other people/generosity of other people something he was charged with working out in this lifetime (there are many way to interpret this and since Jupiter is alot of hot air, maybe this is just what he did). Jupiter rules his 5th house of risk, gambling, children. He is arrested with transiting Saturn (authority, limits, reality checks) on his natal Neptune (lies) and transiting Neptune on his natal Icarus (which is conjunct his larger than life Jupiter) - dissolving those 'fake' wings he has been flying so high with. At the time of Bernie's death he has alot going on in his chart including five major asteroids returning to their natal positions including transiting asteroid Icarus - conjunct his natal Icarus. Pluto opposing his natal Pluto. Transiting asteroid Daedales is conjunct his mid-heaven - the top of his chart, public life and career. The transiting North Node - fate catching up with him - is conjunct his natal Daedales (in dualistic Gemini and conjunct his natal Mars - a Daedales-style father of two sons).

Andrew, the son who died from cancer, born in 1966 with Pluto and Uranus a hair's breadth away from each other, has a natal Daedales/Venus conjunction (father/money) and died with transiting Venus conjunct transiting Daedales. His natal Icarus was conjunct his father's (so when Bernie dies, Icarus is also on Andrew's natal Icarus). He died with transiting Pluto (death) squaring his dad's Saturn (another stand-in for father) and transiting Neptune (illness/death) conjunct his natal Daedales (his father). 

 

Transiting Icarus was conjunct his father's natal Narcissus when Andrew died.

 

Mark, the son who died from suicide, also born with the 60's signature Uranus/Pluto conjunction (chaos/death), although not as tight as his brother's dies with transiting Daedales conjunct his natal Uranus and inconjunct his natal Icarus (he is born with an exact Daedulas/Icarus inconjunct). Transiting Neptune (suicide) and Chiron (unhealable wound) conjunct his natal Saturn (father) which at 28 degrees Aquarius is Bernie's EXACT Descendant/Jupiter conjunction. Transiting Uranus/Jupiter are conjunct his Sun (son). Transiting Eris (whistleblower) is conjunct his natal 10th house Jupiter and squaring a transiting Icarus/Sun conjunction (Icarus flying too close to the Sun). 

 

Transiting Icarus was conjunct his father's natal Narcissus when Mark died.

Transiting Icarus was conjunct a newly minted Pluto in Capricorn in December of 2008 when the sons turned their father in to authorities. 

 

Keep in mind what myths actually represent/are - the ancient language of archetypes (the stories that connect us by re-tracing the shared pathways of our collective unconscious, there are parts of us/our DNA that remembers, and so reacts, to these stories). The physical asteroids themselves being discovered, when we are #ready/#notready to work with them, and synchronistically named.

 

The sins of the father visited on the sons. The story of Icarus and Daedalus.  

The Unpaid Sins and Cunning of A Father Who Falsely Holds Himself Out as Experienced Guide, Gives His Son No Authentic Power to Choose to Be Different or Opposed to His Father, Thereby Binding The Son Into A Small World of Unquestioning Obediance… Even When Logic Alone Would Press for Inquiries at Depth  - from the Icarus archetypal writings of Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés (Women who Run with Wolves)

 

Much more to the story than the man who flies too high and falls to his death -

 

(although, yes that’s part of it and in fact transiting Icarus was conjunct the United States natal Icarus EXACT on Trump's 2nd impeachment date)

 

it’s also the story of a self-interested genius father, who instead of teaching his son how to be great via an example and teachings of ethics/strength/greatness tells him that he IS great

 

(this is actually a very common, and damaging thing we do to our children).

 

Also, Daedalus’s unpaid sin (he'd earlier tossed another young man, in some tellings a son whose own genius/inventive/Uranian gifts he was jealous of, from a tower to his death) visited upon his young son Icarus, who flies first too low - wetting his wings in the ocean - and then too high - in an attempt to dry them in the sun - with the ‘fake’ wings his father has made for him, as Icarus and Daedales attempt to escape the prison his father's narcissism has captured them in, only for Icarus to fall to his death – the father flying on/outliving him. 

 

So many stories of men who fall from the sky have their roots in trying to live up to (narcissistic maybe?) parental expectations!

 

Anyhoo, this is not a Saturday night mystery and I have multiple series of posts to finish up, but I thought I would pop this up here. Icarus is going to play an important role in some upcoming United States transit posts, so it might be good for us to get to know his story a wee bit better. Keep in mind we all have Daedales and Icarus somewhere in our charts, but it is interesting, in light of this family's very public story, to see the way these asteroids' natal positions and transits have interacted with Bernie's high-flying and far-falling life and this impact on the lives of his children.

xo all

 

 

artwork by the amazing Rachel Favelle

Today's Astrology Forecast | Friday, April 16th, 2021 - a light on what really controls us, are old fears still driving this train or is this us laying claim to our new purpose/power

 

 

The Moon continues her journey through fast-talking/fast-moving Gemini - trining Saturn at 3:52AM EDT and squaring Neptune at 11:52PM EDT. 

The Aries Sun reaches his exact square to Pluto at 26 degrees Capricorn. This is tension/frustration. Cardinal squares require change/adjustments. Aries/Cappy - the new vs the old. Our personal actions/goals challenged by authority/limits. Fears about what we are losing/might lose. Power struggles/manipulations. Obsessions.

 

The dark side has cookies and, what the bloody hell, they smell just like Girl Scout thin mints!

The most powerful way to work with a Pluto square with the Sun - because the Sun is ILLUMINATING - is to deal with the stuff that comes out of the shadows now. 

HERE is what really has power/control of us. 

The Sun (as us) is EXALTED in Aries. THIS is who we are. Brave. Passionate. We are nearing the end of the sign, so we are older/wiser than when we first got here. The square to Pluto/challenge comes late enough in the game that we don't have to run into the fray, sword flying, and get our head chopped off. This black/white, all-or-nothing, life and death feeling that something must happen a certain way - well, what if it doesn't. Squares to the Sun are ego threats and what bigger threat than Pluto (the grim reaper) to get our ass moving in a new direction - to show us the ways how we step into our authority/exercise control needs to CHANGE.

 

If there is a wall - no need to smash our head into it. 

 

Let's look ahead - the Sun's next move is a pow-wow with Mercury in a couple days and right now Mercury is trining (brakes off/no wall here) a retrograde Juno in Sagittarius. Use new/more hopeful words, even with tired situations. What can we agree on? The partnership/contract benefits from initiative/action/passionate conversation, maybe even a well-directed argument. 

The bottom line with the Sun/Pluto square from Aries/Capricorn is to notice how we are reacting to this external challenge and then acting from a more independent/authentic space. The real power in Aries, and the reason the Sun is EXALTED here, comes through a JOY OF BEING - think about the spring flower bursting through the winter-weary soil. Filled with light/enthusiasm to be BORN AGAIN - to be of the world AGAIN. Made to be starting/challenging, LEADING the charge.

 

If we are Pluto in this situation, squashing the Sun/light out of something/someone, needing to be RECOGNIZED - lured over by those delicious thin mints - we need to check ourself before we wreck ourself. Fist meets fist. 

 

If we are the Sun, and whatever is happening feels like it is draining us/killing us/taking our power away and we need to strike first/get ours before someone else does, again we'd better check ourself before we wreck ourself. Pluto don't play.

 

If we can see how BOTH these energies are really working within us - the stuff outside is what we have projected out there - we can learn a great deal now. Stay open. We don't have to control the situation. But we do have to respond/stay in our power. We can respond from a higher space instead of impulsively (or even childishly) reacting. 

 

Cardinal squares require new action. Adjustments. What is a better way through this? What is the Cappy authority - and remember we projected it out there in the first place, by not stepping into our own - really requiring of us? An Aries Sun must be true to herself/himself, but we usually don't need to end up in prison to do so. 

 

Pick your battles carefully now. 

 

Can you stand up for yourself/step into your authority without trying to control anyone else? 

 

We need to know who we are in this. We need to be standing in our own shoes. Check the monthly HERE for more info. Tomorrow is pretty packed with aspects and today will just roll into tomorrow (as today is apt to do, see how smart I am). Mercury will be squaring Pluto, AND there will be oodles of ways through that one. The New Moon that kicked off the new lunar year is making sure everyone knows that LIFE HAS CHANGED NOW. This isn't the Monopoly board of your childhood. You can't just win by buying up all the prime real estate. Power is being re-distributed. Chaos is redistributing power. But the old game is still out there. OUR response to the energies in any given moment determines which game we are playing. 

xo all

artwork by the talented wandering sally

Today's Astrology Forecast | Thursday, April 15th, 2021 - forward movement, optimism and then feeling the fear and doing it anyway without being a controlling jerk

 

 

The Moon has moved into multi-tasking, communicative Gemini - we are nurtured by learning, conversations, ideas, our local community. Venus is home in Taurus now - we are wanting things to be more beautiful, more comfortable, more valuable. 

 

The Sun in Aries sextiles (opportunity) Jupiter in Aquarius. 

 

How is Jupiter at 25 degrees Aqua already? Time is flying. This sextile is fire and air - takes some movement/action/words to get going, but then it can keep going/expand/spread like wildfire. Aries is brave and independent. Aquarius is smart and individualistic. What can we do with this? Well, we can see there is no "catching fire" that will come by following the crowd/worrying what others think of us. We need to go our own way with this one. 

 

This is the Sun/Jupiter - our life force and optimism/expansion/that greener grass over that-a-way.

 

 BIG, smart, brave moves are encouraged.

The fly in the ointment (yes, always a fly - and whether this is a tiny little gnatty thing or one of those giant biting horseflies will depend on how we handle today's "me, me, ME" energetic) - is the building/exact tomorrow - Sun square Pluto.  

 

Handled properly we might turn some kind of corner and find ourselves 'in charge'. But if we try to manipulate/control someone else - feel something has to play out exactly as we want it to, tomorrow's square from 'serious as a heart attack' Capricorn can BITE US BACK.

Our power lies in that Aries Sun - our courage/initiative.

 

If we are letting our fears (likely unconscious) run the show - FEAR of what we are losing or might lose, fear of transformation/change, etc - with that square to powerful Pluto, things can take a dark turn. But, if we are moving in a heartfelt/smart/authentic direction - there is alot we can do with today's flow and tomorrow's tension/frustration (kicking off point/back to the wall). 

 

We are having alot of aspects right now and lots of aspects means lots of OPPORTUNITIES - both good (which just means smooth) and bad (which just means challenging) aspects are BETTER than no aspects! 

 

If you have a natal Sun/Jupiter aspect or a natal Sun/Pluto aspect or planets/points around these 25/26 degree marks - you will be feeling this strongest, but they are influencing all of us.

Have confidence/courage - if something starts to feel obsessive/manipulative (the dark side of the Plutonian energy that is building and Pluto is strong and still for his retrograde and messing with him is not a good idea) - ease up a bit. Is this really a matter of life and death? Today's sextile is meant to FLOW. The Moon in Gemini is intended to give us access to news/information but also to apply enough distractions to lighten things up a bit. Tomorrow's square to Pluto is us facing a fear/loss this week. 

 

WE ARE CHALLENGED TO CHANGE. 

Before the challenge we are given the confidence/courage/logic to FACE IT. Life always, always has our back. Keep moving forward, reach further, know you are worth it/deserving of it. If you feel Pluto's slap-back, this doesn't mean you stop necessarily, although you will certainly have to adjust (you might have to drop some dead wood at this point) - stay brave, take care of your responsibilities, avoid the Pluto power-trips/compulsions, 

 

know through today's Sun/Jupiter portal, your ENERGY HAS EXPANDED. 

 

You won't feel good unless you expand your world, too.

xo all

 

Keep in mind, I am writing for the dates these energies are most exact - the hopeful/expansion followed by a kind of slapback/fears coming up - could have already happened in your life and now you are moving through it - be brave/smart! Be Venus in Taurus! Know you deserve/have earned this MORE, whatever this MORE is. But don't be an asshole. If this Aries/Cappy brought on a power trip (controlling others, dark compulsions, etc!), know this is just your fear talking - you really don't have to be running someone else's show/get all the credit, etc - keep in mind the New Moon cycle we are in and Icarus - we don't want to be flying too high OR too low.

 

artwork by the talented Jessika Lavren

Today's Astrology Forecast | Tuesday, April 13th, 2021 - brave actions and conversations, challenged by a partner's independence, leaning into the facts, moving forward

 

 

The Moon is in Taurus now, the sign of her exaltation. We are nurtured/nourished by comfort, good food, the sensual touch that feels like love, knowing our WORTH. Her only aspect a testing/frustrating square to Saturn (limits, authority) around 2:30PM EDT. Independent work is favored. 

At 4:30PM EDT, things lighten as the Sun will reach his sextile to Mars, Aries/Gemini, while trining a retrograde Juno in Sagittarius. Lots of action for people with planets/points in the mid-twenty degrees now, with so many planets here.

The Aries Sun's sextile to Mars (in dualistic and communicative Gemini) speaks of brave action/communication/decisions. This is part of the Full Moon's story we talked about HERE. The trine to Juno speaks of increased optimism/hope within partnerships and contracts. 

 

The fly in the ointment here is Mars (action, words, what comes to light) is opposing Juno at the same time. The relationship is challenged - and she is retrograde, so this won't be a totally new story although new facts can be uncovered. Maybe one partner is more pushy/enthusiastic/passionate about something than the other. Maybe more desirous of a fresh start. Whatever this is, Juno just stationed retrograde yesterday, so this working things out (remember the Full Moon chart spoke of this through the asteroids and Pluto/Ceres story-line) - can involve compromise/challenges to our beliefs/looking ahead, so we are not flying too high OR too low. 

Another tension/frustration now is we have Pallas (in Pisces) reaching her exact square to the Nodes of Fate - now at 11 degrees Gemini/Sagittarius. Squares to the nodes speak of times when we are at a crossroad/decision point, so things we do, say or think having greater significance. Pallas is our wise warrior woman, and in Pisces, using her intuition, guided by the ancestors, by connection. Our collective way forward now is Gemini - the facts, keeping conversations light, smaller more flexible steps. Growth comes through Gemini themes - duality, more than one way forward, more than one situation happening at once, communication issues, sibling issues, local community issues, separating facts from beliefs, transportation issues. Your natal North Node by sign and placement will tell a more precise story.

 

So, we take the bad with the good as always. We've got some great aspects this week - we talked about in the monthly HERE. Reread it as needed, but don't get caught up in the exact day. Read a couple days before and after, too.

 

Keep moving forward. 

 

The push for OURSELVES (courage!) is needed - and this won't really feel like a push with those sextiles and trines. Actions, conversations (even when challenging/angry) will help things fall into place. And in fact, if we are actually pushing we are probably doing something wrong (but maybe not, this is Aries!). A partner's independent moves might be challenging/might even look selfish, but the relationship/contract is in a state of adjustment, re-view/re-do anyway, and everyone of us, in this Age of Aquarius, is moving into a more individualistic/authentic future .... 

 

this won't be a one and done.

 

 

xo all 

artwork by the talented Florencia

The Astrology of the New Moon in Aries | April 11, 2021 - fiery fresh starts that catch fire, old habits might die hard but they can also die fast, a more loving and nurturing way forward

 

 

On Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 10:30PM EDT, the Aries Moon meets the Aries Sun at 22 degrees - giving us this month's New Moon, our annual New Moon in Aries - the first New Moon of the astrological year!

 

And it's HUGE!

This New Moon is all about Aries energy. Cardinal fire - passion/getting something STARTED. Aries is very self sufficient. This is the energy of "me". The baby of the zodiac, Aries can't always see the other person's side of things because if they did they wouldn't be able to take quick, decisive action and that quick decisive action is what they are here to manifest (and why they can be such worriers instead of warriors when they can't).

The Aries New Moon is an open portal to the courage and determination to get something going.

 

With Aries ruler Mars in Gemini - there may be more than one way forward, more than one start, things can branch off in different directions. The Moon's sextile to Jupiter says - whatever starts now, fanned by the currents of a more detached future can catch fire and grow QUICKLY.
 

Aries doesn't have the staying power of some other signs (although Saturn's position at this New Moon will help us with this) because he doesn't need it. Aries isn't the cross country race. Aries is that first powerful kick off at the starting line. Aries energy isn't about winning or losing (maybe don't tell that to an Aries sun sign!) - Aries is about daring to start that race in the first place. Aries supports jumping in and taking action. He doesn't promise us that we will come out a winner or even come out alive (yes he's ruled by Mars and he's totally bad-ass), but he does promise us we will have evolved from the experience.

And that's what we're here for. We didn't come for the outcome, the outcome has already been decided. We all win in the end. We came for the experience. Aries knows this.

 

Let's unpack the chart!

The Sun/Moon (and asteroid Askalaphus) meet at 22 degrees. Remember we have had SIX MONTHS of New Moons at 23 degrees. And now, in a cardinal sign and first New Moon of the astrological year, squaring the 22 degree Cappy that got wiped out back in January 2020 (when Saturn met Pluto), the Moon meets the Sun at that powered up 22 degrees. 

 

22 is a master number - able to achieve almost impossible things (it can also have some self-sabotaging tendencies which we will talk about). It's a BIG DEAL.

The New Moon is conjunct the Sun - exalted in Aries. She is sandwiched between Ceres and Venus. She sextiles (opportunity) Mars in Gemini. She sextiles (opportunity) Jupiter in Aquarius. She quintiles (gift) Saturn. She squares Pluto - notice Venus is EXACTLY square Pluto. Mars, as ruler of Aries, is the ruler of this lunation and he is sextiling the Moon and trining Jupiter. He is conjunct asteroid Asbolus.

 

The Moon's position between Ceres and Venus speaks of our need to be nurturing/loving what we are starting. With the Moon/Ceres/Venus squaring Pluto we have access to deep passions and HONESTY now (also unconscious fears, so check any obsessive/manipulative/jealous behaviors - situations can arise to test this). Maybe something about this fiery, fresh starts comes through WHAT WE STAND TO LOSE IF WE DON'T START. Or what we have to merge/purge to get something going. Dead wood can still burn/can make a sustaining fire. Keep in mind, the Sun/Moon's aspect to Venus is already separating - the Sun's light has already shined on what we need to see about this relationship, financial, values, self-esteem situation.

The Moon's sextile to Jupiter speaks of whatever is started EXPANDING QUICKLY. Old habits may die hard, but they can also die fast under this one. Set your intention. Focus your attention. It's time. If you have something to start/launch the next two weeks are PRIME TIME. No more waiting. Just keep an eye on the Moon (avoid voids). 

Mars, as ruler of Aries, rules this lunation and is also sextiling (opportunity) the New Moon. Action, conversations, words are powerful, focused, sometimes angry. Mars is trining (brakes off) Jupiter - more smooth pavement IF WE MOVE TOWARD THE NEW AND STOP CLINGING/CLAWING AT THE PAST. Mars in Gemini is small, fast, walking and chewing gum at the same time. Jupiter in Aquarius is expanding our future - more hope, more optimism, wider and greener pastures.

Let's take a peek at the asteroids and see what they might tell us. 

 

Asteroid Askalaphus sits EXACT with the Sun/Moon. 

 

And since he is part of the Ceres/Pluto story which the New Moon is activating, let's take a deeper look at him. Askalaphus was the gardener for Hades aka Pluto (I am going to mix Roman/Greek names here for simplicity sake, does this make it more simple, well maybe not!). Pluto snatches Ceres' daughter Persephone and Ceres is wandering the world (as the world is dying from her neglect) searching for her until Hekate tells Ceres what she has seen. Ceres goes to Zeus AKA Jupiter and demands Pluto release her daughter. Jupiter who doesn't want to mess with his brother Pluto, but sees the dying Earth, agrees on the one condition Persephone hasn't eaten any of the food during her time in the underworld. Askalaphus, the gardener, is the fellow who tells Jupiter (Zeus) that Persephone has eaten the pomegranate seeds - which leads to the deal being struck between Ceres/Pluto - Persephone spending half her time in each world - and the creation of the seasons. Ceres cursed Askalaphus for his 'whistle-blowing' and turned him into a screech owl. I think she also buried him under a rock and he was later released by Hercules and Pluto declared the screech owl sacred to the underworld.

At this New Moon, the position of 'whistleblower' asteroid Askalaphus might speak of secrets/inconvenient truths coming out. Possibly through spying or eavesdropping, but maybe just something that is said spontaneously and is somehow detrimental to the parties involved/situation. Like, things are going this way, and then we find out THIS and now what do we do. Ceres/Pluto is often about some kind of compromise.

Asteroid Asbolus is conjunct Mars. 

Asbolus was a centaur seer who read omens in the flights of birds - the screech owl and the 'flights of birds' is pulling in a bird theme? Flying, freedom, what is this? Asbolus is famous for trying to warn his fellow centaurs before a deadly battle in which many of them were killed, but he was ignored. Something here about this New Moon's actions being 'ahead of our time' maybe, Mars (as us) being able to see the future and avoid some pitfalls/battles, falls from the sky?

 

The GIFT of this New Moon is a quintile to Saturn, strong in his home sign of Aquarius. Carrying the magic of the 5 pointed star, the quintile offers us a gift/innate talent - a spontaneous spark/fire that carries a great deal of raw and powerful energy. This is Aries/Aqua - and all these birds, making me think of something more freeing. The fly in the ointment with the quintile, and I think Asbolus on Mars is reinforcing this, is that the energy needs to be controlled/directed so that it doesn't turn destructive, maybe especially destructive to ourselves.

The bottom line here is this - the next two weeks - is a TIME FOR STARTING. What starts now will grow rapidly and expansively over the next 6 months. 

The square to Pluto is a turning point/something to push against (and we know Mars likes to push!). Are our old obsessions, need for power/control, manipulations, jealousies still driving this train 

OR can this be a real FRESH START seeded with something else 

(the Venus/Ceres - love, including love of ourselves, nurturing, understanding the seasonality of situations). Coming on the back of the Mars/Neptune and Mercury/Chiron there is something uncomfortable (old woundings, old anger) leading us to this point.

 

So, what are we to do now? 

 

Well, this is the independent sign of Aries - that's up to you!

 

NEW MOON INTENTIONS 

The New Moon is an excellent time for energetic support to make changes with things ruled by Aries : the head (headaches, acne, eyes, brain), the overall physical self, exploration, initiative, courage, leadership, strength, stubbornness, impulsiveness, temper tantrums, anger, stress from inaction - what do we need more of in our lives, what are we needing to release, our natal and progressed ARIES HOUSE THEMES.
 

AFFIRMATION TIPS: get into a calm, centered frame of mind - always make affirmations from a  positive (meaning both certain and happy) space - write your affirmations down by hand in script, speak them out loud - it's fire season. I'll write my affirmations on strips of paper and burn them, releasing the ashes into the air this month (Mars in Gemini).

 

Then release your attention from these things knowing that your intention is known.  

Know these things are already yours. 

xo all

Note - all this birds/flying is reminding me that 22 degrees Aries is where asteroid Icarus (the too low/too high flyer we will talk about in a big upcoming post) will be during the BIG eclipse in 2024 that will again cross the United States - the 2017 Great American Eclipse having majorly activated this Trump/covid timeline. He will also be conjunct the hot 22 degrees Cappy at the U.S. first exact Pluto return date of 2/22/22 and Icarus was exactly conjunct the U.S. natal Icarus when Trump was impeached the second time. Asteroid Icarus is an important player/indicator over the next couple years and his story is much more complicated than flying too high, but yes, the flying too high is part of it, and Asbolus is allowing us to look ahead, so keep that in mind now, too! We don't want to be the ones falling from the sky.